Brussels, 10/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - Several speakers at the conference on energy union in Riga on Friday 6 February highlighted the crucial role of the cities committed to sustainable local energy within the Covenant of Mayors and on the need to strengthen this movement that brings together local and regional authorities in voluntary efforts to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy sources.
EU energy policy was described by the head of the International Energy Agency, Maria van der Hoeven, as “a local success but systemic failure”, a view echoed by Latvian Economics Minister and host of the event Dana Reizniece-Ozola, closing the event. This local level success is illustrated by the Covenant of Mayors, where some 6,000 cities have committed to an average 28% CO2 reduction, exceeding the EU ambition, the organisation's secretariat highlights.
Unveiling a part of the package of measures for energy union, which the European Commission will present on 25 February, Energy and Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete stressed the importance of using the Covenant of Mayors “to its full potential” through the European investment plan and regional and structural funding. Also attending the conference, MEP Claude Turmes (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg) called for the Covenant of Mayors initiative, which was launched by the Commission in 2008, to be reinforced with human and financial resources to help cities “become leaders in the energy transition debates”.
“To reinforce European cohesion and solidarity, the Energy Union should be based on multi-level governance, drawing on the Covenant of Mayors which demonstrates cooperation between all government levels”, argued Stephan Brandligt, deputy mayor of Delft (Netherlands), which is a Covenant of Mayors signatory.]
Addressing the European Parliament at the end of January, Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Energy Union Maros Sefcovic highlighted the importance of the local dimension in the energy union, saying: “I am deeply convinced that we can only build an energy union with the active contribution of citizens, local actors and cities”, the secretariat noted.
Almost 70% of the 6,000 cities that are signatories to the Covenant - equivalent to 25% of the population of the EU - have adopted sustainable energy action plans which seek to reduce their CO2 emissions by 44% by means of initiatives in the building sector, the largest energy consumer (47%), the transport sector (17% of energy consumption) and local energy production.
The Covenant of Mayors contributes significantly to Europe's energy security: according to a study by the EU's Joint Research Centre, 58% of gas consumption in six of the most dependent countries could be saved by implementing cities' sustainable energy action plans, the Covenant secretariat says. (Emmanuel Hagry)